Mastercraft1981SnS

Hi all, so I was searching the web and happened to find an article where someone was saying that 4x4 is better for towing (sorry cant find it).

I also was looking at renting a Uhaul trailer a few months a go to buy a project mini truck. I typed in my old truck and it said it could not tow it the truck was 2wd so then for the heck of it I said it was 4x4 and then it said it could tow it. The thing I thought was weird was the 4x4 and 2wd truck had the same towing capacity. I’m thinking Uhaul dose it by the weight of the truck not the tow rating.

So now I’m just Curious on if there are any benefits of towing with a 4x4 in on road/normal conditions? I can’t see there being any. I mean you would be towing in 2wd any way.

solarity

A slippery boat ramp can make 4x4 helpful. 4x4 does add weight, which can reduce payload, which can reduce towing. Some midsize SUVs have more towing with 4x4. Though as I live in the snowbelt and tow, I never bothered looking into towing with a f150 2x2 vs 4x4.

acadianbob

there is no benefit to 4x4 when towing other than slippery conditions at low speed; e.g. wet grass, boat ramp. 4x4 can actually lower tow rating because of the additional vehicle weight vs a fixed GVWR.

VWandSTUDEBAKER

My wife I just today started really looking at getting a larger truck to pull our travel trailer. I have many questions and will ask them in my own post. Looking at the towing between a 4x4 and a 4x2 at the dealership wasn't enough to spend the extra and like others have said, its wasted extra weight that you don't need unless you NEED 4x4.

David

solarity

Judging by his username, Mastercraft, I am guessing he is into boating and it can help when on a ramp, granted many do it. I do recall seeing a minivan spinning its wheels at a ramp. I Iove 4x4 and I tow a boat, granted I haven't upgraded to a F150 myself, but planning for a 2017 in about a year. If you live in a snowy area or do off roading, the 4x4 would be a good investment.

Ricktwuhk

Minivan likely had front wheel drive. An F-150 without 4x4 but with a locker would be helpful. Myself, I never considered not getting a 4x4, had an Explorer before I bought the truck and way before that a CJ-7, all with 4x4. Got the e-locker also for the small additional cost.

solarity

The mini-van did have FWD. I don't recalll seeing any other vehicle spinning its wheels and I have trailed my boat a lot. Granted most people up here do you AWD/4WD.

Now that I think about it, I think 4x4 would help him with towing, if he is does indeed have a boat. You can tow a heavier boat, than you can a TT. The boat has a lot less tongue weight, so you will hit the towing maximum, before you hit the payload or hitch limit. My 3-3.5K cuddy puts only about ~75-100lbs on the hitch, I can lift it myself. Also a boat has a lower center of gravity and is a lot more aerodynamic. As 4x4 only effects the payload and he shouldn't hit his max payload, without hitting the max towing first. If that is the case with his boat, then 4x4 would actually help on the launch and not hinder towing performance in his case. Granted adding 4x4 on a F-150 isn't as cheap as your normal SUV.

Though Mastercrafts are far lighter than a cabin cruiser. So his a F-150 is more than what he needs.

marshallr

Long term there is virtually no downside to buying a 4X4 over a 4X2. All things being equal a 4X4 will be rated to tow or carry 200-300 lbs less because of the extra weight of the 4X4 components, but if you're within 300 lbs of max towing it is time to move up to an F-250 anyway.

A 4X4 costs more initially, but is worth more down the road. I've owned 4X4 trucks since 1977 and paid about $500 more at the time over a 4X2. Every time I've traded or sold one since then the price difference between me trading a 4X4 for another 4X4 would have been about the same had I traded a 4X2 for another 4X2.

If you put oversize aggressive tread tires on either a 4X4 or 4X2 vehicle you'll take a big hit in fuel mileage. Stay with a sensible All Terrain tire on either and there is no measurable difference in fuel mileage anymore. Years ago there was about 1 mpg penalty for 4X4, even that was nothing to be concerned about.

The only extra service is 1 extra axle and the transfer case that need the fluids changed every 100,000 miles.

Even if 4X4 is rarely used it can be a lifesaver when needed. I don't go play off road, but end up using mine in 4X4 several times each year. About 1/2 the time to pull a 4X2 truck out of a jam. And it can be helpful when towing. Try backing a heavy load UP HILL. You end up with most of the weight on the trucks front wheels and spinning the rear wheels. Having low range for slower speeds and control can help too.

smokeywren

Not exactly. Tow rating = GCWR minus the weight of the truck. 4x4 adds about 300 pounds to the weight of the truck, so the tow rating of a 4x4 will be about 300 pounds less than the tow rating of a 4x2.


Example 1: 2012 F-150 SuperCrew shorty with 3.55 axle ratio has GCWR of 13,500. Tow rating of 4x2 = 8,000 pounds. Tow rating of identical pickup but with 4x4 has tow rating of 7,700 pounds.


Example 2: 2012 F-150 SuperCrew with 6.5' bed, 3.73 axle ratio and heavy duty payload package has GVWR of 17,100. Tow rating of 4x2 = 11,300 pounds. Tow rating of identical pickup but with 4x4 has tow rating of 11,000 pounds.


So when comparing apples to apples, the 4x2 will have 300 pounds more tow rating than the otherwise identical 4x4.

Mastercraft1981SnS

So a 4x2 has 300lbs more towing capability, and most of you also do not see they benefit of towing with a 4x4 in normal conditions.